Abstract

Suppression of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) in soil within the vine row was assessed between 14–36 weeks after incorporation of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) cv. Nemfix as green manure and as seed meal in a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old vineyard. Application of mustard green manure and seed meal either to the inter-row or the vine row soil reduced nematode population densities significantly in the vine row soil in both vineyards. However, the reduction of M. javanica J2 population densities was greater when the vine row soil was treated with mustard green manure (9.0–11.5 t DM/ha) and seed meal (2 t/ha treated area) compared with inter-row treatments. At 36 weeks after treatment, there was 13- to 14-fold reduction of nematode population densities in plots having green manure or seed meal to the vine row soil in the 3-year-old vineyard compared with 4-fold reduction in the 15-year-old vineyard.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the growers of Hunter Valley districts who have permitted us to conduct this research in their vineyards, and David Shearer and Scott Richards, NSW Agriculture, for providing field assistance. Thanks to Yandilla Mustard Oil Enterprise Pty Ltd for providing Indian mustard seed meal; Julie Stanton, Department of Queensland Primary Industry, for species confirmation through mtDNA analysis; Brian Cullis and Beverley Orchard, Biometricians, NSW Agriculture, for statistical analysis of the data. We also thank Dr Melanie Weckert, Plant Pathologist, and Dr Rod McLeod, retired nematologist, NSW Agriculture, for their valuable suggestions and comments in improving this manuscript. The project was funded by the R & D initiative account from NSW Agriculture.

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Rose BJ,
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